Shipping wardrobe

ABSTRACT

A shipping wardrobe is assembled from a blank of corrugated cardboard and includes a front panel having a diagonal score line which defines a generally triangular door which employs the fold line as a hinge. Means are provided on the door for engagement with a sidewall of the wardrobe to preclude the door from being inadvertently pushed inwardly.

United States Patent [191 Collin 51 Feb. 18, 1975 [5 1 SHIPPING WARDROBE[76] Inventor: Herbert S. C0llin, c/o Collin Box &

Supply Co., Newton, Mass. 02118 [22] Filed: Dec. 10, 1973 [21] Appl.No.: 423,204

[52] US. Cl. 206/290, 229/17 R, 229/52 B [51] Int. Cl B65d 85/18 [58]Field of Search 229/17 R, 44 R, 52 B, 37 R,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,585,494 5/1926 Harvey229/17 R 2,807,354 9/1957 Belsinger 206/290 2,8l5,l l9 l2/l957 Field206/290 3,074,538 l/l963 Bolsinger 206/290 3,369,652 2/1968 Bebout206/290 Primary ExaminerEdward J. McCarthy Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks [5 7] ABSTRACT A shipping wardrobe isassembled from a blank of corrugated cardboard and includes a frontpanel having a diagonal score line which defines a generally triangulardoor which employs the fold line as a hinge. Means are provided on thedoor for engagement with a sidewall of the wardrobe to preclude the doorfrom being inadvertently pushed inwardly.

5 Claims,- 5 Drawing Figures 1 SHIPPING WARDROBE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to shipping or storage clotheswardrobes of the type which may be fabricated from precut blanks ofcorrugated cardboard. The wardrobes typically include a panel defining adoor which can be opened or closed along a hinge line scored in thefront panel of the box. The unhinged regions of the door panel usuallyare the weakest portions of the wardrobe because they cannot be rigidlyattached to the adjacent panels if the door is to be easily opened whendesired. Such wardrobes often are subjected to rough handling and it isnot uncommon for the door to be pushed in inadvertently during suchhandling which materially weakens the structure. It is among the primaryobjects of my invention to provide an improved wardrobe of the typedescribed in which the door structure is materially strengthened.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The shipping wardrobe is assembled from a blankof corrugated cardboard which includes a front panel having a diagonalscore line which defines a triangular door. A flap is provided along thevertical free edge of the door and is adapted to bear against the innersurface of the adjacent sidewall of the wardrobe when the door isclosed. The upper end of the flap is cut to define a tongue which, whenthe door is closed, is wrapped about the edge of the adjacent sidewallto lie outside of the sidewall and preclude the door from being pushedinwardly into the wardrobe. The side panels include top flaps which,when folded, define the top of the wardrobe. The top flaps are connectedto the upper edges of the side panels by a pair of integral horizontalstrips which, when folded into the proper configuration, lie outside ofthe sidewall and extend downwardly therefrom forming a skirt-like handleby which the wardrobe may be gripped. The upper edge of the sidewall andthe skirt define a serpentine cross-sectional configuration and thetongue is received within and protected by the serpentine panels.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved shippingand storage clothes wardrobe.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved shipping andstorage wardrobe which may be assembled from a single blank of cardboardmaterial or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wardrobe of the typedescribed having an openable door panel and in which means are providedfor locking the door panel to resist the door panel from beinginadvertently pushed inwardly into the wardrobe.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and other objects andadvantages of the invention will be understood more fully from thefollowing further description thereof, with reference to theaccompanying drawings wherein;

FIG. 1 is an illustration of the partially assembled wardrobe with itstop flaps and door panel open;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged illustration of the free corner of the door panelshowing the manner in which the tongue lies outwardly of the adjacentside panel of the wardrobe;

FIG. 3 is an illustration similar to FIG. 2 with the side top flapfolded over the tongue;

FIG. 4 is an illustration similar to FIG. 3 showing the corner region infront elevation;. and

FIG. 5 is an illustration of the blank from which the improved wardrobeis fabricated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The wardrobe shown in FIG. 1 maybe assembled from the corrugated cardboard blank shown in FIG. 5. Theblank includes a front panel 10, left side panel 12, rear panel 14 andright side panel 16 which are joined at the fold lines 18, 20, 22. Eachof the panels 10, 12, l4, I6 is provided with a bottom flap 24 which,when the box is folded to its rectangular configuration. can be foldedalong their fold lines 26 in the usual manner to define the boxv bottom.Each of the front and rear panels l0, 14 includes a top flap 28 and theside panels 12, 16 include top flaps 30 at their upper end. Top flaps28, 30 are foldable, as described below to form the top of the assembledwardrobe. The top flaps 28 are foldable along the fold lines 32. The topflaps 30 which are associated with the side panels l2, 16 also are foldable along reverse folding or score lines 34. Each of the flaps 30includes a pair of additional score lines 36, 38 which, when the flaps30 are folded as described below will define handle strips 40, 42.

Front panel 10 includes a diagonal score line 44 which, as shown, mayextend from the upper left hand corner of the front panel 10 to the edgefold line 46 at a location somewhat above the bottom of the panel 10.Diagonal score line 44 defines a generally triangular shaped door 48. II

The blank also includes, at the edge 46 of the door 10, a front panelflap 50 which is foldable along the score line 46. The flap includes adiagonal cut 52 to define a lower flap portion 54 and a horizontal cut56 to define a tongue 58. The diagonal cut 52 intersects theintersection of the score line 44 with the fold line 46. The uppercorner of the upper portion 58 is preferably rounded as shown at 60. Inthe preferred embodiment the height of the upper portion 58 issubstantially equal or, perhaps slightly less than the width of thehandle strips 40, 42.

The wardrobe is assembled by folding the panels 10, 12, l4, 16 to arectangular configuration as shown with the free edge 62 of panel 16adjacent front panel flap 50. The bottom flaps 24 are folded and may besecured by any of a variety of conventional means as tape, staples orthe like. The front panel flap 50 lies against the inner surface of thefront edge of panel 16 and its lower portion 54 is secured to the bottomof the panel 16 by stitching or staples to provide a secure andpermanent attachment. The remaining upper portions of the front flap 50are unsecured and enable the door 48 to be opened by hinging it alongthe score line 44 as suggested in FIG. 1. When the door 48 is closed,the fold line 46 lies adjacent edge 62 of the right side panel 16 withthe flap 50 lying against the inner surface of the front edge of thepanel 16. When closed the edges 64, 66 of the flap 50 which were definedby the cut 52 lie against each other with the lower portion 54 providingsome support for. the upper portions of the flap 50.

The top flaps 30 of the side panels 12, 16 are folded down outwardly ofthe panels along the reverse score lines 34 so that the strips 40 lieadjacent and define a double thickness portion of the upper margin ofeach of the side panels 12, 16. A clothes hanger bar 68 having a pair ofU-shaped members 70 is placed across the wardrobe top with the U-shapedmembers 70 engaging firmly the double thickness region defined by thepanels 12, I6 and the reverse folded strips 40. For example, a hangerbar 68 of the type shown in my U.S. patent application Ser. No. 257,6lfiled May 30, I972 may be employed.

When closing the wardrobe the door 48 is folded to its upright closedposition with the flap 50 disposed inside of the side panel 16. Thetongue 58, however, is placed outside of the panel 16 and against theoutwardly facing surface of the handle strip 40 as shown in FIG. 2. Thetop flaps 28 of the front and rear panels l0, 14 then can be folded intooverlapping relation over the top of the wardrobe. The flaps 30 then arefolded upwardly about the fold line 36 and then downwardly along thefold line 38. When the top flaps 30 and their handle strips 40, 42 havebeen folded to the closed position it may be seen that, as viewed fromthe front, the upper edge of the side panel 16 and the strips 40, 42define a serpentine configuration having forwardly open slots to receivethe tongue 58. The adjacent edges of the panels 30 then may be taped.When the wardrobe containing clothes is meant to be shipped it isperferred to also provide a strip of tape along the adjacent edge 62 andfold line 46 of the side and front panels as suggested in FIG. 3.

The foregoing arrangement renders the wardrobe substantially strongerand, in particular, the wardrobe door 48 is further rigidified frombeing pushed in inadvertently during shipment by the wrap-aroundengagement of the flap 58 with the front edge 62 of the side panel 16.The wardrobe can be reclosably opened by removing the vertical tapestrip and folding the door portion 48 outwardly with the tongue 58simultaneously being withdrawn from its protective enclosure between thestrips 40, 42. It may be reclosed simply by urging the door 48 back toits closed position while reinserting the tongue 58 into the slotdefined by the strips 40,- 42 which is fully exposed when viewed fromthe front of the wardrobe. The exposed corner 60 of the tongue 58 isrounded to facilitate insertion into the slot. In this regard it shouldbe noted that while the illustrative embodiment has shown the tongue 58as being inserted into the skirt handle through the slot defined by thestrips 40, 42 it could also be inserted'in the slot defined between thestrip 40 and the outwardly facing surface ofthe panel 16. In either casethe tongue 58 is protected within the gripping handle which is definedby the plurality of folded strips 40, 42.

It should be understood that the foregoing description of the inventionis intended merely to be illustrative thereof and that othermodifications and embodiments may be apparent to those skilled in theart without departing from its spirit.

Having thus described the invention what I desire to claim and secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A storage and shipping wardrobe comprising:

a pair of sidewalls, a rear wall and a front wall arranged in arectangular configuration;

flap means connected to the bottom edge of each of said walls and beingconstructed to be foldable to define a bottom for said wardrobe;

at least one of said side panels having a flap formed along the upperedge thereof, said flap being foldable at least in part downwardly alongthe outer surface of said side panel to define a gripping handle havinga slot which is exposed at least at the front of said wardrobe;

said front wall of said wardrobe having a door hinged along a hingeline, said door having a free edge which, when said door is closed, liesadjacent the front edge of said at least one panel, said door having atongue formed along said free edge thereof, said tongue being hinged tosaid door and disposed at a location to enable said tongue to beinserted exteriorly of said sidewall and into saidslot when said door isclosed.

2. A storage and shipping wardrobe as defined in claim 1 furthercomprising:

said tongue having a rounded upper corner to facilitate its entry intosaid slot.

3. A storage and shipping wardrobe as defined in claim 1 furthercomprising:

said front wall of said wardrobe having a flap extending outwardlytherefrom, said flap being cut from its edge to the intersection of saidhinge and the edge of said front wall to define a bottom flap portion;

means for securing said bottom flap portion to the forward bottom regionof said side panel;

said tongue being formed at the upper end of said flap and being definedby a horizontal cut formed in said flap from its vertical edge to theedge of said front panel.

4. A flap blank foldable into a storage and shipping wardrobecomprising:

a sheet of material having score lines formed therein to define insuccession a front panel, a side panel, a rear panel, and a second sidepanel;

a bottom flap extending from the bottom edge of each of said panels;

a top flap extending from the upper edge of each of said panels, saidtop flaps of said side panels being defined by a reverse score line andhaving a pair of parallel score lines formed therein and spaced fromsaid reverse score line;

said front panel having a diagonal score line formed therein andextending from that corner of said front panel which is adjacent saidtop flap and the adjacent side panel downwardly and diagonally to theopposite vertical edge of said front panel;

a vertical flap extending outwardly from the edge of said front panel,said flap having a cut formed therein extending from the intersection ofsaid score line with the edge of said front panel to the free edge ofsaid flap, said flap having a further cut at its upper end to define atongue at the upper most end of said flap.

5. A blank as defined in claim 4 wherein the free corner of said tongueis rounded.

1. A storage and shipping wardrobe comprising: a pair of sidewalls, arear wall and a front wall arranged in a rectangular configuration; flapmeans connected to the bottom edge of each of said walls and beingconstructed to be foldable to define a bottom for said wardrobe; atleast one of said side panels having a flap formed along the upper edgethereof, said flap being foldable at least in part downwardly along theouter surface of said side panel to define a gripping handle having aslot which is exposed at least at the front of said wardrobe; said frontwall of said wardrobe having a door hinged along a hinge line, said doorhaving a free edge which, when said door is closed, lies adjacent thefront edge of said at least one panel, said door having a tongue formedalong said free edge thereof, said tongue being hinged to said door anddisposed at a location to enable said tongue to be inserted exteriorlyof said sidewall and into said slot when said door is closed.
 2. Astorage and shipping wardrobe as defined in claim 1 further comprising:said tongue having a rounded upper corner to facilitate its entry intosaid slot.
 3. A storage and shipping wardrobe as defined in claim 1further comprising: said front wall of said wardrobe having a flapextending outwardly therefrom, said flap being cut from its edge to theintersection of said hinge and the edge of said front wall to define abottom flap portion; means for securing said bottom flap portion to theforward bottom region Of said side panel; said tongue being formed atthe upper end of said flap and being defined by a horizontal cut formedin said flap from its vertical edge to the edge of said front panel. 4.A flap blank foldable into a storage and shipping wardrobe comprising: asheet of material having score lines formed therein to define insuccession a front panel, a side panel, a rear panel, and a second sidepanel; a bottom flap extending from the bottom edge of each of saidpanels; a top flap extending from the upper edge of each of said panels,said top flaps of said side panels being defined by a reverse score lineand having a pair of parallel score lines formed therein and spaced fromsaid reverse score line; said front panel having a diagonal score lineformed therein and extending from that corner of said front panel whichis adjacent said top flap and the adjacent side panel downwardly anddiagonally to the opposite vertical edge of said front panel; a verticalflap extending outwardly from the edge of said front panel, said flaphaving a cut formed therein extending from the intersection of saidscore line with the edge of said front panel to the free edge of saidflap, said flap having a further cut at its upper end to define a tongueat the upper most end of said flap.
 5. A blank as defined in claim 4wherein the free corner of said tongue is rounded.